Phenotypic characterisation of a unique non-T, non-B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cell line

Abstract

MANY human lymphoblastoid cell lines have been established from subjects with different haemopoietic disorders as well as from normal individuals1–3. In most cases the inability to identify the precise origin of cells which have been established has limited the usefulness of these lines, especially those derived from leukaemic donors. Although there are a few important exceptions to this generalisation (2, 3, 4 and see below) it is significant that no lines have been established from the common form of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) which is usually referred to as ‘null’ cell or ‘non-T, non-B’ ALL (refs 5–7). We describe here the establishment of a lymphoid cell line, Reh, derived from an acute lymphocytic leukaemia where the leukaemic identity of established cells is supported by kinetic data, chromosome markers and detection of leukaemia associated antigens and enzymes.